Sketchy Pharm: Monobactams and Carbapenems

Question 1

Give an example of a monobactam.

Answer 1

Aztreonam (like the repair droid: AZ-3M)

Question 2

Aztreonam can kill only _______________.

Answer 2

Gram-negative aerobic rods (such as Pseudomonas)

(This fact is symbolized by the AZ-3M droid using the bellows – aerobic –to clean the red, rod-shaped robot. Behind those two is an android that looks like Mona Lisa.)

Question 3

What is a typical use of aztreonam?

Answer 3

Treatment of meningitis or pneumonia from Gram-negative rods in a patient who has had a serious reaction to penicillins

(This is represented by C3PO wearing the red, Trojan helmet with lung dents and a purple pencil stuck in his side.)

Question 4

What can carbapenems treat?

Answer 4

Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (shown by the prism on the hover CAR’s hood); also, they can kill aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (which you know because the mechanic is wearing a gas mask and the car is next to Mona Lisa –an aerobic bacterium)

Question 5

Which carbapenem must be administered with an adjunctive medication?

Answer 5

Imipenem, which must be given with the dehydropeptidase inhibitor cilastin

(This fact is shown by the renal tubule in the hover car, next to which AMy – AMypenem = imipenem –is pouring cilastin… “Keep it lastin’ with cilastin.”)

Question 6

What side effects does imipenem have?

Answer 6

Reduced seizure threshold (robot who got shocked next to Amy), diarrhea, and rash (robot in oil slick with rust spots next to Amy)